Acts 1.8

ADA000 The Acts of the Apostles

Introduction to a series of studies on the Acts of the Apostles, the natural continuation of the Gospel of Luke. The article presents the historical and theological approach adopted: placing events in context, setting them alongside the Pauline epistles, and establishing a chronology. The two central figures, Peter and Paul, will structure the study. The aim is to trace the birth and expansion of the Church from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean world, under the action of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2.14-41 (King James Version) :

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,Until I make thy foes thy footstool.Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA002 The apostles' conversation with Jesus

Luke reports Jesus' last conversation with his eleven apostles before the Ascension (Acts 1.4-8). Jesus commands them to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, refuses to reveal the eschatological times reserved to the Father, and entrusts them with a universal mission: to be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. This passage forms the structural outline of the book of Acts.

Mark 1.8 (King James Version) :

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA007 Peter's speech

The article deals with Peter's speech at Pentecost, detailing how he refutes misinterpretations and presents Jesus as the Messiah of the Scriptures. He calls for repentance and baptism, and promises the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 110.1 (King James Version) :

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA008 Three thousand people convert

The article deals with the conversion of three thousand people following Peter's speech. It highlights the challenges for the young church, the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit, and the renewed meaning of Christian baptism.

Acts 1.15 (King James Version) :

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA009 The healing of the lame man

The article examines the healing of the lame man in Acts 3.1-11 by Peter and John, placing the miracle in the context of the Jerusalem Temple. It discusses the importance of this healing as an act of witness and underlines the action of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost in the ministry of the apostles.

Acts 3.1-11 (King James Version) :

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.And all the people saw him walking and praising God:And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA018 The remarkable growth of the early Church

The ADA018 article comments on Acts 5.12-16, describing the growth of the early Church in Jerusalem in the spring of 33. The apostles perform miracles publicly in Solomon’s Portico, the Church grows in numbers, men and women alike, and the apostles’ reputation grows among the people, despite a fear aroused by the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira. The passage establishes a strong parallel with the ministry of Jesus.

Luke 5.26 (King James Version) :

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA019 The arrest of the apostles

The ADA019 article comments on Acts 5.17-18: faced with the remarkable growth of the Church in Jerusalem, the high priest and the Sadducees, moved by jealousy, have the apostles arrested. Luke shows that despite the opposition of the religious authorities, the work of Christ continues through the action of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the promise of Acts 1.8.

John 11.47-50 (King James Version) :

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA022 The appearance before the Sanhedrin

Exegetical study of Acts 5.27-33, which relates the appearance of the apostles before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Faced with the accusations of Caiaphas, Peter declares with confidence that obedience to God takes precedence over obedience to men, and announces that Jesus, crucified and risen, is exalted as Prince and Savior to grant repentance and forgiveness to Israel. A foundational episode of the apostolic mission.

Acts 5.30-31 (King James Version) :

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA023 The intervention of the Pharisee Gamaliel

During a session of the Sanhedrin in the spring of 33, the Pharisee Gamaliel steps in to calm the Sadducees who want to put the apostles to death. By a pragmatic argument drawing on the precedents of Theudas and Judas the Galilean, he persuades the council to adopt a wait-and-see position. From Luke's perspective, his words illustrate a central theme of Acts: the work of God cannot be stopped by men.

Acts 5.34 (King James Version) :

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA030 Saul and the martyrdom of Stephen

Article ADA030 examines Acts 8.1-3: the first appearance of Saul of Tarsus, who approves of Stephen’s martyrdom, and the beginning of a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. The scattering of believers throughout Judea and Samaria, far from being a defeat, providentially becomes the driving force behind the spread of the Gospel, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in Acts 1.8.

Galatians 1.13-14 (King James Version) :

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

ADA032 The Gospel in Samaria

After Stephen’s death, the persecution scatters the believers of Jerusalem, who proclaim the Gospel wherever they go. Philip goes to Samaria and preaches there with power. Luke shows that this scattering fulfills the missionary program announced by Jesus in Acts 1.8. Samaria, long separated from Israel, at last receives the Good News. Philip, one of the Seven, becomes the first officially appointed evangelist of the New Testament.

Matthew 10.23 (King James Version) :

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

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